Trump’s DOJ Investigation Demands Could Upend Political Norms Going Forward

President Trump has ordered investigations into former officials who opposed him, revoking security clearances and directing probes that critics call an alarming assault on democratic norms.

Quick Takes

Trump signed memorandums directing the Justice Department to investigate former officials Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, stripping them of security clearances
During a visit to the Justice Department, Trump positioned himself as the “chief law enforcement officer” and vowed to end its alleged weaponization
Taylor was the anonymous author of a 2018 New York Times op-ed criticizing Trump’s administration, while Krebs was fired after declaring the 2020 election secure
Trump described Taylor’s actions as “treasonous” and called Krebs a “significant bad-faith actor”
Critics warn these actions represent a dangerous precedent of using presidential power to punish political opponents

Targeting Former Officials Who Broke Ranks

President Donald Trump has taken decisive action against former administration officials who publicly opposed him, signing memorandums that strip security clearances and direct investigations into their past activities. The orders specifically target Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who authored an anonymous critique of Trump’s administration, and Christopher Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency who contradicted Trump’s election fraud claims after the 2020 election. Both men have been labeled as disloyal by the Trump administration.

Taylor became known as the anonymous author of a 2018 New York Times op-ed and subsequent book that criticized Trump’s leadership style and decision-making. Krebs, meanwhile, was fired in November 2020 after his agency’s Rumor Control website worked to correct falsehoods about election integrity and he publicly stated that the 2020 election was “the most secure in American history.” Trump’s memorandums describe Taylor’s actions as potentially “treasonous” and label Krebs as a “significant bad-faith actor.”

Justice Department Speech Signals New Direction

During a recent visit to the Justice Department, Trump delivered a politically charged speech in which he pledged to “expose” his enemies and address what he described as injustices against him and his supporters. Speaking alongside his nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, Trump positioned himself as the “chief law enforcement officer” – a title traditionally reserved for the Attorney General. He criticized past Justice Department actions and promised accountability for perceived wrongs within the department.

“Our predecessors turned this Department of Justice into the Department of Injustice. But I stand before you today to declare that those days are over, and they are never going to come back and never coming back,” Trump said.

During the speech, Bondi introduced Trump with effusive praise, stating: “We all work for the greatest president in the history of our country.” The event highlighted Trump’s significant influence over the department, including his plans to remove prosecutors and scrutinize FBI agents who were involved in investigations against him and his supporters. Critics note that these actions represent a departure from the Justice Department’s traditional independence in handling criminal investigations.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO PROFESSOR TURLEY ON GROWING BIDEN AUTOPEN SCANDAL

We strongly, and respectfully, disagree with Professor Turley’s response to a narrow subset of the arguments we have raised regarding the prolific use of “autopen” by the Biden White House, particularly with… https://t.co/TrzAXITNwm

— Oversight Project (@ItsYourGov) March 20, 2025

Broader Pattern of Targeting Critics

The directed investigations against Taylor and Krebs appear to be part of a broader pattern of using presidential authority to target individuals and organizations involved in legal actions against Trump or his allies. This includes barring law firm Susman Godfrey from federal resources after they represented Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Taylor has responded to the investigation announcement by highlighting the concerning implications, saying, “Never has a man so inelegantly proved another man’s point.”

Rep. Jim Himes, a prominent voice on intelligence matters, has expressed alarm over the targeting of Krebs specifically: “Krebs executed his constitutional and professional duty by debunking lies about the 2020 election. That Donald Trump would wield the Justice Department against him for such an act represents yet another chilling step towards authoritarianism.” Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney has also criticized these actions, comparing them to the targeting of political adversaries commonly seen in authoritarian regimes.

Staffing Changes Support New Direction

Trump has sought to remove obstacles to his agenda by appointing loyalists to key positions within his administration, including Pam Bondi as his nominee for Attorney General and Kash Patel for a senior national security role. These appointments come after contentious relationships with his first two attorneys general during his previous term. The new appointees are expected to align more closely with Trump’s vision for the Justice Department and his approach to investigating political opponents.

Trump continues to maintain that the 2020 election was stolen, despite numerous court dismissals and confirmed recounts verifying President Biden’s victory. The investigations into former officials who contradicted these claims reflect the administration’s commitment to addressing what Trump perceives as disloyalty within government ranks. Supporters view these actions as necessary accountability, while critics warn of potential legal and constitutional conflicts that could arise from using federal investigative powers against political opponents.